Drafter
Clerk 04/06/2009
Title
A MOTION establishing the process for appointing the county executive in the event of a vacancy in the office.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County council is committed to principles of good government and the transparency of its proceedings, and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the King County executive will shortly resign the executive's elected office for a federal position, and
WHEREAS, the King County council has the duty under the county charter to fill the resulting vacancy in the office of executive by appointment of an individual to serve as executive until the executive's successor is elected and qualified at the November 2009 general election, and
WHEREAS, the Washington state Attorney General's office has opined that a board of county commissioners may not appoint one of their members to a vacant position that they have the duty to fill, and
WHEREAS, the challenges facing an appointed county executive during the intervening months before a November election will be enormous and are expected to include substantial budget shortfalls, and
WHEREAS, criminal justice and public safety programs are likely to be the most severely impacted by those budget shortfalls, and
WHEREAS, strong leadership by the King County executive will be essential to securing "life boat" funding and ensuring that the county accesses appropriate federal stimulus package funds, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive is considered to be one of the highest ranking elected officials in Washington state, and
WHEREAS, the Municipal League of King County has published ratings of candidates for public office, reviewed and made recommendations on proposed ballot measures and closely monitored the workings of local government for almost a century, and
WHEREAS, it will be critically important for an appointed county executive to focus attention on the business of King County rather than the demands of campaigning for office, and
WHEREAS, in ...

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